Beckham to retire from soccer

David Beckham is retiring from soccer, ending a career in which he transcended the sport with forays into fashion and a marriage to a pop star that made him a global celebrity.

The 38-year-old former England captain, who recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain, said on Thursday he will retire after the season.

"It's a good way to go out," Beckham said in Paris. "It's every athlete's dream, every footballer's dream to go out on the top - on top form or winning a trophy ... leaving as a champion."

Beckham, whose curling free kicks and pin-point crosses became his signature as a player, has two more matches left at PSG against Brest on Saturday and at Lorient on May 26. He has been giving his salary to a children's charity.

Asked what led to his decision, Beckham replied with a laugh: "Probably when (Lionel) Messi was running past me in that home game," referring to PSG's Champions League match against Barcelona last month.

Beckham started his career with Manchester United and also played for Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning titles with all those clubs and also making a record 115 international appearances for an England outfield player.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the midfielder as "one of the most iconic figures in global football".

Beckham's fame went beyond the field, with his haircuts and clothing scrutinised as often as his play, earning him a string of lucrative sponsorship deals.

"Sometimes that has overshadowed what I have done on the pitch or what I have achieved on the pitch," Beckham said in a television interview conducted by former United teammate Gary Neville. "And as much as I say that doesn't hurt me, of course it does.

"I am a footballer that has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world and played with some of the best players in the world, played under some of the biggest and best managers and achieved almost everything in football."

Beckham was even immortalised on the silver screen in the 2002 film "Bend it Like Beckham", which told the story of a British teenage girl of south Asian heritage struggling with family pressures and cultural expectations to play the sport she loves.

Beckham's retirement led to a flood of tweets dubbing the day "End it Like Beckham."

Beckham is now living in London with his wife Victoria, a former Spice Girls singer, and their four children.

"I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams," he said.

"I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period."

With United between 1992 and 2003, Beckham won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup.

Beckham left United in 2003 shortly after manager Alex Ferguson accidentally struck Beckham's eye with a football boot. Ferguson announced his retirement from Manchester United last week.

Beckham spent four years in Madrid - winning the 2007 Spanish title before making the surprise move to Major League Soccer, where he won the title twice.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.